Novel thiazolidin-4-one derivatives

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one thiazolidin-4-one derivative to prevent or treat disorders associated with an activated immune system. Furthermore, the invention relates to novel thiazolidin-4-one derivatives notably for use as pharmaceutically active compounds. Said compounds particularly act also as immunosuppressive agents.

This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/580,169, filed Dec. 1, 2006, which is a U.S. National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/EP04/12953, filed Nov. 16, 2004, which claims priority to International Application No. PCT/EP03/13072, filed Nov. 21, 2003, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel thiazolidin-4-one derivatives of the General Formula (I) and their use as active ingredients in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention also concerns related aspects including processes for the preparation of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more compounds of the General Formula (I), and their use as immunosuppressant agents, either alone or in combination with other immunosuppressant therapies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The immune system attempts to fight a transplanted organ in the same way it fights an infection or a cancer. Without immunosuppressive medication to inhibit the immune system's action, a transplanted organ is quickly rejected and stops functioning. Organ transplant recipients can experience some organ rejection even when they are taking immunosuppressive drugs. Rejection occurs most frequently in the first few weeks after transplantation, but rejection episodes can also happen months or even years after transplantation. Combinations of up to three or four medications are commonly used to give maximum protection against rejection while minimizing side effects. Current standard drugs used to treat the rejection of transplanted organs interfere with discrete intracellular pathways in the activation of T-type or B-type white blood cells. Examples of such drugs are cyclosporin, daclizumab, basiliximab, everolimus, or FK506, which interfere with cytokine release or signaling; azathiopirene or leflunomide, which inhibit nucleotide synthesis; or 15-deoxyspergualin, an inhibitor of leukocyte differentiation. The beneficial effects of these therapies relate to their broad immunosuppressive effects; however, the generalized immunosuppression which these drugs produce also diminishes the immune system's defence against infection and malignancies. Furthermore, standard immunosuppressive drugs are often used at high dosages and can themselves cause or accelerate organ damage in either the transplanted organ itself, or in other target organs of the transplant recipient.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compounds having a powerful and long-lasting immunosuppressive effect which is achieved by reducing the number of circulating and infiltrating T- and B-lymphocytes, without affecting their maturation, memory, or expansion. In consequence, the compounds of the present invention can be utilized alone or in combination with standard T-cell activation inhibiting drugs, to provide a new immunosuppressive therapy with a reduced propensity for infections or malignancies when compared to standard immunosuppressive therapy. Furthermore, the compounds of the present invention can be used in combination with reduced dosages of traditional immunosuppressant therapies, to provide on the one hand effective immunosuppressive activity, while on the other hand reducing end organ damage associated with higher doses of standard immunosuppressive drugs.

Biological Assay

The immunosuppressive activity of the compounds of the invention can be demonstrated by measuring the number of circulating lymphocytes in whole blood of rats as follows.

Normotensive male Wistar rats are housed in climate-controlled conditions with a 12-hour light/dark cycle, and have free access to normal rat chow and drinking water. Blood (0.5 mL) is collected by retro-orbital sampling before drug administration, and 3 and 6 h thereafter. Blood cell count is measured in whole blood using a Beckman-Coulter Synchron CX5 Pro cytometer. Statistical analysis of lymphocyte counts are performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Statistica (StatSoft) and the Student-Newman-Keuls procedure for multiple comparisons.

Thus, compounds of the invention decrease the number of circulating lymphocytes in whole blood when compared to pre-drug values.

Table 1 shows the effect on lymphocyte counts 6 h after oral administration of 10 mg/kg of a compound of the present invention to normotensive male Wistar rats as compared to a group of animals treated with vehicle only.

TABLE 1 Compound of Example Lymphocyte counts [%] 4 −32 7 −67 24 −54 42 −23 46 −37 75 −47 76 −58 77 −55 84 −68 85 −63 86  −30* 91 −35 95 −53 100 −53 103 −47 110 −30 130 −26 *at 3 mg/kg p.o.

The following paragraphs provide definitions of the various chemical moieties that make up the compounds according to the invention and are intended to apply uniformly throughout the specification and claims unless an otherwise expressly set out definition provides a broader definition.

The term lower alkyl, alone or in combination with other groups, means saturated, straight or branched chain groups with one to seven carbon atoms, preferably one to four carbon atoms. Examples of lower alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl or n-heptyl.

The term lower alkoxy means a R—O group, wherein R is a lower alkyl. Preferred examples of lower alkoxy groups are methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, iso-propoxy, iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy or tert-butoxy.

The term mono- or di-lower alkylamino means a R′—NH— or a R′—NR″— group, wherein R′ and R″ are each independently a lower alkyl. Preferred examples of mono- or di-lower alkylamino groups are methylamino, ethylamino, N,N-dimethylamino, or N-methyl-N-ethyl-amino.

The term lower alkenyl, alone or in combination with other groups, means straight or branched chain groups comprising an olefinic bond and three to seven carbon atoms, preferably three to five carbon atoms. Examples of lower alkenyl are allyl, (E)-but-2-enyl, (Z)-but-2-enyl, or but-3-enyl.

The term halogen means fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo.

The term cycloalkyl alone or in combination, means a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon ring system with 3 to 7 carbon atoms, preferably three to six carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkyl are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or cycloheptyl.

The expression pharmaceutically acceptable salts encompasses either salts with inorganic acids or organic acids like hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, benzoic acid, methanesulfonic acid, and the like that are non-toxic to living organisms. In case the compound of General Formula (I) or General Formula (II) is acidic in nature the expression encompasses salts with an inorganic base like an alkali or earth alkali base, e.g. sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, or with an organic base such as benzathine, choline, meglumine, and the like which are also non-toxic to living organisms (S. M. Berge, L. D. Bighley and D. C. Monkhouse, Pharmaceutical salts, J. Pharm. Sci., 66 (1977), 1-19; P. L. Gould, Salt selection of basic drugs, Int. J. Pharmaceutics 33 (1986), 201-217).

The compounds of the General Formula (I) and General Formula (II) can contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms and may be prepared in form of optically pure enantiomers, mixtures of enantiomers such as racemates, diastereomers, mixtures of diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, mixtures of diastereomeric racemates, and meso-forms. The present invention encompasses all these forms.

A first aspect of the invention consists of a novel pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one thiazolidin-4-one derivative of the General Formula (I):

wherein: R¹ represents lower alkyl, lower alkenyl; cycloalkyl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-2-yl; a phenyl group; a phenyl group independently mono-, di- or trisubstituted with lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, or —CF₃; R² represents lower alkyl; allyl; cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl; cyclopentyl; mono- or di-lower alkylamino; R³ represents —NR⁵R⁶; —O—CR⁷R⁸—CR⁹R¹⁰—(CR¹¹R¹²)_(n)—O—R¹³; R⁴ represents hydrogen; hydroxy; lower alkoxy; lower alkyl; halogen; or R³ and R⁴ together may form a methylenedioxy or ethylenedioxy ring optionally further substituted with a hydroxy methyl group; R⁵ and R⁶ each represents independently lower alkyl; R⁷ represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, or hydroxymethyl; R⁸, R⁹, R¹¹ and R¹² each represents independently hydrogen or methyl; R¹⁰ represents hydrogen or lower alkyl; in case n represents the integer 1, R¹⁰ in addition represents lower alkoxy, hydroxy, —NH₂, —NHR⁵ or —NR⁵R⁶; R¹³ represents hydrogen; lower alkyl; hydroxycarbonyl-lower alkyl; 1-glyceryl or 2-glyceryl; n represents the integer 0 or 1; and configurational isomers, optically pure enantiomers, mixtures of enantiomers such as racemates, diastereomers, mixtures of diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, mixtures of diastereomeric racemates and the meso-form, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvent complexes, and morphological forms, and inert carrier material.

The compounds of General Formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be used as medicaments, e.g. in the form of pharmaceutical preparations for enteral, parental or topical administration. They can be administered, for example, perorally, e.g. in the form of tablets, coated tablets, dragées, hard and soft gelatine capsules, solutions, emulsions or suspensions, rectally, e.g. in the form of suppositories, parenterally, e.g. in the form of injection solutions or infusion solutions, or topically, e.g. in the form of ointments, cream or oils.

The production of the pharmaceutical preparations can be effected in a manner which will be familiar to any person skilled in the art (see for example Mark Gibson, Editor, Pharmaceutical Preformulation and Formulation, IHS Health Group, Englewood, Colo., USA, 2001; Remington, The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20th Edition, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science) by bringing the described compounds of General Formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, optionally in combination with other therapeutically valuable substances, into a galenical administration form together with suitable, non-toxic, inert, therapeutically compatible solid or liquid carrier materials and, if desired, usual pharmaceutical adjuvants.

Suitable inert carrier materials are not only inorganic carrier materials, but also organic carrier materials. Thus, for example, lactose, corn starch or derivatives thereof, talc, stearic acid or its salts can be used as carrier materials for tablets, coated tablets, dragées and hard gelatine capsules. Suitable carrier materials for soft gelatine capsules are, for example, vegetable oils, waxes, fats and semi-solid and liquid polyols (depending on the nature of the active ingredient no carriers are, however, required in the case of soft gelatine capsules). Suitable carrier materials for the production of solutions and syrups are, for example, water, polyols, sucrose, invert sugar and the like. Suitable carrier materials for injection solutions are, for example, water, alcohols, polyols, glycerol and vegetable oils. Suitable carrier materials for suppositories are, for example, natural or hardened oils, waxes, fats and semi-liquid or liquid polyols. Suitable carrier materials for topical preparations are glycerides, semi-synthetic and synthetic glycerides, hydrogenated oils, liquid waxes, liquid paraffins, liquid fatty alcohols, sterols, polyethylene glycols and cellulose derivatives.

Usual stabilizers, preservatives, wetting and emulsifying agents, consistency-improving agents, flavour-improving agents, salts for varying the osmotic pressure, buffer substances, solubilizers, colorants and masking agents and antioxidants come into consideration as pharmaceutical adjuvants.

The dosage of the compounds of General Formula (I) can vary within wide limits depending on the disease to be controlled, the age and the individual condition of the patient and the mode of administration, and will, of course, be fitted to the individual requirements in each particular case. For adult patients a daily dosage of about 0.5 mg to about 1000 mg, especially about 1 mg to about 500 mg, comes into consideration for the treatment of disorders associated with an activated immune system for adult patients. Depending on the dosage it may be convenient to administer the daily dosage in several dosage units.

The pharmaceutical preparations conveniently contain about 0.5 to 500 mg, preferably 1 to 250 mg, of a compound of General Formula (I).

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition comprises the (Z, Z)-isomers of the thiazolidin-4-one derivatives of the General Formula (I).

The above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition is useful for the prevention and treatment of disorders associated with an activated immune system.

Such diseases or disorders are selected from the group consisting of rejection of transplanted organs or tissue; graft-versus-host diseases brought about by transplantation; autoimmune syndromes including rheumatoid arthritis; systemic lupus erythematosus; Hashimoto's thyroiditis; lymphocytic thyroiditis; multiple sclerosis; myasthenia gravis; type I diabetes; uveitis; posterior uveitis; uveitis associated with Behcet's disease; uveomeningitis syndrome; allergic encephalomyelitis; chronic allograft vasculopathy; post-infectious autoimmune diseases including rheumatic fever and post-infectious glomerulonephritis; inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin diseases; psoriasis; atopic dermatitis; osteomyelitis; contact dermatitis; eczematous dermatitis; seborrhoeic dermatitis; lichen planus; pemphigus; bullous pemphigoid; epidermolysis bullosa; urticaria; angioedema; vasculitis; erythema; cutaneous eosinophilia; acne; alopecia greata; keratoconjunctivitis; vernal conjunctivitis; keratitis; herpetic keratitis; dystrophia epithelialis corneae; corneal leukoma; ocular pemphigus; Mooren's ulcer; ulcerative keratitis; scleritis; Graves' opthalmopathy; Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome; sarcoidosis; pollen allergies; reversible obstructive airway disease; bronchial asthma; allergic asthma; intrinsic asthma; extrinsic asthma; dust asthma; chronic or inveterate asthma; late asthma and airway hyper-responsiveness; bronchitis; gastric ulcers; ischemic bowel diseases; inflammatory bowel diseases; necrotizing enterocolitis; intestinal lesions associated with thermal burns; coeliac diseases; proctitis; eosinophilic gastroenteritis; mastocytosis; Crohn's disease; ulcerative colitis; vascular damage caused by ischemic diseases and thrombosis; atherosclerosis; fatty heart; myocarditis; cardiac infarction; arteriosclerosis; aortitis syndrome; cachexia due to viral disease; vascular thrombosis; migraine; rhinitis; eczema; interstitial nephritis; IgA-induced nephropathy; Goodpasture's syndrome; hemolytic-uremic syndrome; diabetic nephropathy; glomerulosclerosis; glomerulonephritis; multiple myositis; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Meniere's disease; polyneuritis; multiple neuritis; mononeuritis; radiculopathy; hyperthyroidism; Basedow's disease; thyrotoxicosis; pure red cell aplasia; aplastic anemia; hypoplastic anemia; idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; autoimmune hemolytic anemia; agranulocytosis; pernicious anemia; megaloblastic anemia; anerythroplasia; osteoporosis; sarcoidosis; fibroid lung; idiopathic interstitial pneumonia; dermatomyositis; leukoderma vulgaris; ichthyosis vulgaris; photoallergic sensitivity; cutaneous T cell lymphoma; polyarteritis nodosa; Huntington's chorea; Sydenham's chorea; myocardosis; scleroderma; Wegener's granuloma; Sjogren's syndrome; adiposis; eosinophilic fascitis; lesions of gingiva, periodontium, alveolar bone, substantia ossea dentis; male pattern alopecia or alopecia senilis; muscular dystrophy; pyoderma; Sezary's syndrome; chronic adrenal insufficiency; Addison's disease; ischemia-reperfusion injury of organs which occurs upon preservation; endotoxin shock; pseudomembranous colitis; colitis caused by drug or radiation; ischemic acute renal insufficiency; chronic renal insufficiency; lung cancer; malignancy of lymphoid origin; acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemias; lymphoma; psoriasis; pulmonary emphysema; cataracta; siderosis; retinitis pigmentosa; senile macular degeneration; vitreal scarring; corneal alkali burn; dermatitis erythema; ballous dermatitis; cement dermatitis; gingivitis; periodontitis; sepsis; pancreatitis; carcinogenesis; metastasis of carcinoma; hypobaropathy; autoimmune hepatitis; primary biliary cirrhosis; sclerosing cholangitis; partial liver resection; acute liver necrosis; cirrhosis; alcoholic cirrhosis; hepatic failure; fulminant hepatic failure; late-onset hepatic failure; “acute-on-chronic” liver failure.

Particularly preferred diseases comprise the group consisting of rejection of transplanted organs or tissue; graft-versus-host diseases brought about by transplantation; autoimmune syndromes including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis; pollen allergies; type I diabetes; prevention of psoriasis; Crohn's disease; post-infectious autoimmune diseases including rheumatic fever and post-infectious glomerulonephritis; and metastasis of carcinoma.

Furthermore, compounds of the General Formula (I) are also useful, in combination with one or several immunosuppressant agents, for the treatment of disorders associated with an activated immune system and selected from the list as above-mentioned. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said immunosuppressant agent is selected from the group comprising or consisting of cyclosporin, daclizumab, basiliximab, everolimus, tacrolimus (FK506), azathiopirene, leflunomide, 15-deoxyspergualin, or other immunosuppressant drugs.

Another aspect of the invention concerns a method for the prevention or treatment of disorders associated with an activated immune system comprising the administration to the patient of a pharmaceutical composition containing a compound of the General Formula (I). A suitable dose of the compound of General Formula (I) in the pharmaceutical composition is between 0.5 mg and 1000 mg per day. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said dose is comprised between 1 mg and 500 mg per day and more particularly between 5 mg and 200 mg per day.

A further aspect of the invention are novel thiazolidin-4-one derivatives of the following General Formula (II):

wherein: R¹⁴ represents lower alkyl, lower alkenyl; cycloalkyl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-2-yl; a phenyl group; a phenyl group mono-, di- or trisubstituted independently with lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, or —CF₃; R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl; allyl; cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl; cyclopentyl; mono- or di-lower alkylamino; R¹⁶ represents hydrogen; hydroxy; lower alkoxy; lower alkyl or halogen; R¹⁷ represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, or hydroxymethyl; R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²¹ and R²² each represents independently hydrogen or methyl; R²⁰ represents hydrogen or lower alkyl; and in case m represents the integer 1, R²⁰ in addition represents lower alkoxy, hydroxy, —NH₂, —NHR⁵ or —NR⁵R⁶; R²³ represents hydrogen; lower alkyl; hydroxycarbonyl-lower alkyl; 1-glyceryl or 2-glyceryl; m represents the integer 0 or 1; and configurational isomers, optically pure enantiomers, mixtures of enantiomers such as racemates, diastereomers, mixtures of diastereomers, diastereomeric racemates, mixtures of diastereomeric racemates and the meso-form, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

Preferred thiazolidin-4-one derivatives according to General Formula (II) are (Z,Z) isomers of General Formula (II).

In a preferred embodiment, R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted, a mono- or disubstituted phenyl group.

In another preferred embodiment, R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted, a mono- or disubstituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen.

In a further preferred embodiment, R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl.

In another preferred embodiment, R¹⁶ represents halogen or methyl.

In another preferred embodiment, m represents the integer 0; and R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹ and R²⁰ represent hydrogen.

In yet another preferred embodiment, m represents the integer 1, R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²¹, R²² represent hydrogen, and R²⁰ represents hydroxy.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, R²³ represents hydrogen.

In another particularly preferred embodiment, m represents the integer 0; R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰, and R²³ represents hydrogen.

In another particularly preferred embodiment, m represents the integer 1, R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²¹, R²², and R²³ represent hydrogen, and R²⁰ represents hydroxy.

In a further preferred embodiment, R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted, a mono- or disubstituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, and R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl.

In another further preferred embodiment, R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted, a mono- or disubstituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, m represents the integer 0; R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰, and R²³ represents hydrogen.

In another further preferred embodiment, R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted, a mono- or disubstituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, m represents the integer 1, R¹⁷, R¹, R¹⁹, R²¹, R²², and R²³ represent hydrogen, and R²⁰ represents hydroxy.

In particularly preferred embodiment, R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted, a mono- or disubstituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl; R¹⁶ represents halogen or methyl, m represents the integer 0, and R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰ and R²³ each represent hydrogen.

In another particularly preferred embodiment, R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted, a mono- or disubstituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl; R¹⁶ represents halogen or methyl, m represents the integer 1, R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²¹, R²², and R²³ represent hydrogen, and R²⁰ represents hydroxy.

Specific thiazolidin-4-one derivatives according to formula (II) are:

-   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   {2-[4-(2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-4-oxo-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-5-[Z]-ylidenemethyl)-phenoxy]-ethoxy}-acetic     acid, -   rac-5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz[Z]ylidene}-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-fluoro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz[Z]ylidene}-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-m-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-m-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-m-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-p-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-p-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-p-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz[Z]ylidene}-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[3-fluoro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,4-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-(2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-[Z]-ylmethylene)-3-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2-chloro-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2-chloro-phenyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2-chloro-phenyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-(2-methoxy-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-(2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-[Z]-ylmethylene)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-methoxy-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-allyl-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-allyl-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-3-allyl-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   (R)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   (S)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz[Z]ylidene}-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-tert-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-(dimethyl-hydrazono)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-(dimethyl-hydrazono)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-ethylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-Ethylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-ethylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one,     2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-butylimino)-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-sec-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-cyclopropylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-cyclohexyl-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-cyclohexyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-Hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-allyl-2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-thiazolidin-4-one, -   3-allyl-2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-methylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-methylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one,

More specific thiazolidin-4-one derivatives according to formula (II) are:

-   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   (R)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   (S)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   rac-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   2-(dimethyl-hydrazono)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-Ethylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, -   5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one,

Compounds of General Formula (I) and General Formula (II) are suitable for the use as medicament.

Still a further object of the present invention is a process to prepare a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the General Formula (I) or a compound of the General Formula (II) by mixing one or more active ingredients with inert excipients in a manner known per se.

The compounds of General Formulae (I) and (II) can be manufactured by the methods given below, by the methods given in the Examples or by analogous methods. Optimum reaction conditions may vary with the particular reactants or solvents used, but such conditions can be determined by a person skilled in the art by routine optimisation procedures.

Compounds of the General Formula (I) and General Formula (II) of the present invention can be prepared according to the general sequence of reactions outlined below. Only a few of the synthetic possibilities leading to compounds of General Formula (I) and General Formula (II) are described as summarized in Scheme 1.

According to Scheme 1, compounds of the General Formula (I) can be prepared by reacting a compound of Structure I with a compound of Structure II, for instance, in acetic acid at elevated temperatures and in the presence of a base such as sodium acetate. The reaction can also be carried out in a non-polar solvent such as toluene or benzene in the presence of an amine such as pyrrolidine or piperidine.

Likewise, compounds of the General Formula (II) can be prepared by reacting a compound of Structure III with a compound of Structure IV (Scheme 2).

Depending on the nature of R²³, it may be beneficial to prepare the compounds of General Formula (II) by first reacting a compound of Structure III with the compound of Structure V to form a compound of Structure VI (Scheme 3). The compound of Structure VI is then treated with a compound of Structure VII wherein X represents a leaving group such a chlorine, a bromine or an iodine atom, or a sulfonic acid ester group in the presence of a base such as K₂CO₃, NaH, or triethylamine in a solvent such as THF, DMF, acetone, or DMSO.

As outlined in Scheme 1, the compounds of Structure I can be prepared by reacting a compound of Structure VIII with a compound of Structure IX to form the intermediate of Structure X which is then cyclised to the compound of Structure I with a bromo- or chloroacetic acid ester of Structure XI. This reaction is ideally performed in a two step-one pot procedure at room temperature using an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol as solvent. The second step can be catalysed by the addition of pyridine.

Alternatively, the compounds of Structure I can also be prepared by reacting a compound of Structure Xil with a compound of Structure XIII in the presence of a base such as NaH in a solvent such as THF or DMF. Compounds of the Structure XII are prepared by treating a compound of Structure XIV with chloroacetic acid chloride or bromoacetic acid bromide in a solvent such as THF, DMF or DCM in the presence of a base such as triethylamine, ethyldiisopropylamine at temperatures between −60 and +50° C. (Scheme 4).

The preparation of compounds of Structure III is in analogy to the preparation of compounds of Structure I.

EXAMPLES

The following examples illustrate the invention but do not at all limit the scope thereof.

All temperatures are stated in ° C. Compounds are characterized by ¹H-NMR (300 MHz) or ¹³C-NMR (75 MHz) (Varian Oxford; chemical shifts are given in ppm relative to the solvent used; multiplicities: s=singlet, d=doublet, t=triplet; p=pentuplet, hex=hexet, hept=heptet, m=multiplet, br=broad, coupling constants are given in Hz); by LC-MS (Finnigan Navigator with HP 1100 Binary Pump and DAD, column: 4.6×50 mm, Zorbax SB-AQ, 5 m, 120A, gradient: 5-95% acetonitrile in water, 1 min, with 0.04% trifluoroacetic acid, flow: 4.5 ml/min), t_(R) is given in min; by TLC (TLC-plates from Merck, Silica gel 60 F₂₅₄); or by melting point. Compounds are purified by preparative HPLC (column: Grom Saphir Rp-C₁₈, 110A, 5 m, 30×30 mm, gradient: 10-95% acetonitrile in water containing 0.5% of formic acid, in 2 min, flow: 75 mL/min) or by MPLC (Labomatic MD-80-100 pump, Linear UVIS-201 detector, column: 350×18 mm, Labogel-RP-18-5s-100, gradient: 10% methanol in water to 100% methanol).

ABBREVIATIONS

-   aq. aqueous -   atm atmosphere -   DCM dichloromethane -   DMF dimethylformamide -   DMSO dimethylsulfoxide -   EA ethyl acetate -   h hour -   Hex hexane -   HV high vacuum conditions -   min minutes -   THF tetrahydrofuran -   rt room temperature -   sat. saturated -   t_(R) retention time -   tlc thin layer chromatography     Typical Procedure for the Preparation of the     2-imino-thiazolidin-4-one Scaffold (Method A)

To a solution of isopropylamine (1.31 g, 22.19 mmol) in methanol (25 mL) is added portionwise phenylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 22.19 mmol). The solution which becomes slightly warm during the addition is stirred at rt for 4 h before pyridine (2.63 g, 33.29 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (3.39 g, 22.19 mmol) is added. The mixture is stirred for another 16 h at rt before it is poured onto 1 N aq. HCl (100 mL) and extracted with diethyl ether (150 mL). The aq. layer is neutralised by adding sat. aq. NaHCO₃ and extracted with diethyl ether (4×150 mL). The organic extracts are dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated. The remaining solid is suspended in diethyl ether/heptane, filtered off, washed with additional diethyl ether/heptane and dried to give 3-phenyl-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-thiazolidin-4-one.

Typical Procedure for the Preparation of the 2-imino-thiazolidin-4-one Scaffold (Method B)

a) A solution of aniline (9.31 g, 100 mmol) and triethylamine (15.2 g, 150 mmol) in THF (150 mL) is cooled to −40° C. before chloroacetic acid chloride (11.3 g, 100 mmol) is slowly added in portions such that the temperature does not rise above 0° C. After completion of the addition, the brown suspension is stirred at rt for 1 h. The dark purple mixture is poured onto water (300 mL) and extracted twice with EA (300 mL). The organic extracts are washed with sat. aq. NaHCO₃, 0.5 N aq. HCl, followed by water, and evaporated. The brown residue is suspended in diethyl ether, filtered off, washed with additional diethyl ether and dried under high vacuum to give 2-chloro-N-phenyl-acetamide. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.75 min, [M+1]⁺=170, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.22 (s br, 1H), 7.56-7.51 (m, 2H), 7.40-7.24 (m, 2H), 7.20-7.14 (m, 1H), 4.20 (s, 2H).

b) At rt, NaH (154 mg of 55% dispersion in mineral oil, 3.54 mmol) is added in portions to a solution of n-propylisothiocyanate (596 mg, 5.90 mmol) and the above 2-chloro-N-phenyl-acetamide (1000 mg, 5.90 mmol) in DMF (30 mL). Stirring is continued for 2 h after completion of the addition. The mixture is poured onto EA (150 mL) and is extracted twice with 1 N aq. HCl (200 mL). The aq. layer is neutralised by adding 3 N NaOH followed by sat. aq. NaHCO₃, and extracted twice with EA (200 mL). The organic extracts are washed with water (200 mL) and evaporated to give a pale yellow, crystalline solid. This material is suspended in a small amount of diethyl ether/hexane 1:1, filtered, washed with additional diethyl ether/hexane and dried under high vacuum to give 3-phenyl-2-[(Z)-propylimino]-thiazolidin-4-one.

Typical Procedure for the Introduction of the Benzylidene Substituent (Method C)

A solution of 3-phenyl-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-thiazolidin-4-one (150 mg, 0.64 mmol), piperonal (192 mg, 1.28 mmol) and sodium acetate (105 mg, 1.28 mmol) in acetic acid (3 mL) is stirred at 110° C. for 4 h. The dark yellow to brown solution is cooled to rt, diluted with EA (75 mL), washed with sat. aq. NaHCO₃, followed by water, and evaporated. The crude product is purified by crystallisation from a small amount of methanol (approx. 5 mL) to give 5-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmeth-(Z)-ylidene-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one.

Typical Procedure for the Introduction of the benz-(Z)-ylidene Substituent (Method D)

A solution of 3-phenyl-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-thiazolidin-4-one (150 mg, 0.64 mmol), 4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)benzaldehyde (213 mg, 1.28 mmol) and sodium acetate (105 mg, 1.28 mmol) in acetic acid (3 mL) is stirred at 110° C. for 3 h. The brown solution is cooled to rt, diluted with EA (75 mL), washed with sat. aq. NaHCO₃, followed by water, and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in methanol (20 mL) and sodium methylate is added (150 mg). The resulting solution is allowed to stand for 40 min at rt before it is diluted with EA, washed with 10% aq. citric acid, and twice with water. The organic extracts are evaporated and the residue is crystallised from methanol to give (2Z,5Z)-3-phenyl-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz-(Z)-yl idene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-thiazolidin-4-one.

Typical Procedure for the Introduction of the benz-(Z)-ylidene Substituent (Method E)

A solution of 3-(2-methyl phenyl)-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-thiazolidin-4-one (50 mg, 0.200 mmol), 2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxine-6-carbaldehyde (49 mg, 0.300 mmol) and sodium acetate (33 mg, 0.400 mmol) in acetic acid (1 mL) is stirred at 110° C. for 5 h. The reaction mixture is cooled to rt and subjected to prep. HPLC purification. The product containing fractions are evaporated and dried to give 5-(2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-ylmeth-(Z)-yl idene)-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one.

Typical Procedure for the Introduction of the benz-(Z)-ylidene Substituent (Method F)

A solution of 3-(2-methylphenyl)-2-[(Z)-propylimino]-thiazolidin-4-one (87 mg, 0.351 mmol), 3-chloro-4-((4R)-2,2-dimethyl-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethoxy)-benzaldehyde (190 mg, 0.702 mmol) and sodium acetate (58 mg, 0.702 mmol) in acetic acid (4 mL) is stirred at 110° C. for 4 h. Water is added (50 μL) and stirring is continued at 110° C. for 1 h. The reaction mixture is cooled to rt, diluted with EA (75 mL), washed with sat. aq. NaHCO₃, followed by water, and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in methanol (20 mL) and sodium methylate is added (150 mg). The resulting solution is allowed to stand for 40 min at rt before it is diluted with EA, washed with 10% aq. citric acid, and twice with water. The organic extracts are evaporated and the residue is purified on prep. TLC plates using toluene/EA 1:3 to give 5-[3-chloro-4-((2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-propylimino]-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one (98 mg) as a pale yellow foam.

Preparation of rac-4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benzaldehyde

To a solution of 4-82-hydroxyethoxy)-benzaldehyde (2.50 g, 15.0 mmol) in THF (100 mL) is added NaH (722 mg of 55% dispersion in mineral oil, 16.5 mmol) in two portions. The mixture is stirred at rt for 30 min and allylbromide (2.18 g, 18.0 mmol) is added. After stirring for 1 h at rt the thick mixture is diluted with DMF (20 mL) and stirring is continued for another 2 h. The mixture is diluted with EA (300 mL), washed with sat. aq. NaHCO₃ (150 mL), and water (2×150 mL) and concentrated. The residue is chromatographed on silica gel eluting with heptane/EA 3:2 to afford 4-(2-allyloxy-ethoxy)-benzaldehyde (2.11 g) as an almost colourless oil. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.88 min, [M+1]⁺=207.

The above material (1.5 g, 7.27 mmol) is dissolved in acetone (40 mL) and treated with a 2.5% solution of OsO₄ in tert.-butanol (1.48 mL, 0.146 mmol). N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide (1.03 g, 8.73 mmol) followed by water (1 mL) is added and the resulting yellow to green solution is stirred at rt for 4.5 h before it is diluted with EA (250 mL) and washed with 10% aq. citric acid solution (100 mL) and water (2×200 mL). The washings are extracted back once with EA (200 mL). The combined organic extracts are concentrated to leave rac-4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benzaldehyde (1.26 g) as a brownish oil. This material which reversibly polymerizes upon standing is used without further purification in the next step. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.62 min, [M+1]⁺=241.

Preparation of 3-chloro-4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-benzaldehyde

A mixture of 3-chloro-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (10 g, 63.9 mmol), K₂CO₃ (26.5 g, 191.6 mmol) and 2-bromoethyl acetate (26.7 g, 159.7 mmol) in acetone (250 mL) is refluxed for 18 h before it is diluted with diethyl ether (200 mL) and washed with water (3×200 mL). The washings are extracted with diethyl ether (200 mL). The combined organic extracts are dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The remaining residue is purified by column chromatography on silica gel eluting with heptane/EA 1:1 to afford the title compound (6.44 g) as colourless solid. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 9.85 (s, 1H9, 7.91 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.75 (dd, J=1.8, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.53-4.49 (m, 2H), 4.35-4.31 (m, 2H), 2.12 (s, 3H).

Preparation of 4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-3-fluoro-benzaldehyde

A mixture of 3-fluoro-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (2.0 g, 14.3 mmol), K₂CO₃ (5.92 g, 42.8 mmol) and 2-bromoethyl acetate (4.77 g, 28.5 mmol) in acetone (30 mL) is stirred at 55° C. for 24 h before it is diluted with diethyl ether (150 mL) and washed with water (3×50 mL). The organic extract is dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The remaining residue is chromatographed on silica gel to give the title aldehyde (1.65 g) as a colourless oil. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 9.85 (s, 1H), 7.64-7.58 (m, 2H), 7.07 (t, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.49-4.45 (m, 2H), 4.35-4.30 (m, 2H), 2.10 (s, 3H).

Preparation of 4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-3-methylbenzaldehyde

A mixture of 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-benzaldehyde (7.0 g, 51.4 mmol), K₂CO₃ (21.32 g, 154.2 mmol) and 2-bromoethyl acetate (25.8 g, 154.2 mmol) in acetone (250 mL) is refluxed for 18 h before it is diluted with diethyl ether (300 mL) and washed with water (3×250 mL). The washings are extracted with diethyl ether (200 mL). The combined organic extracts are dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The remaining residue is purified by column chromatography on silica gel eluting with heptane/EA 1:1 to afford the title compound (11.14 g) as colourless solid. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 9.85 (s, 1H), 7.72-7.67 (m, 2H), 6.92-6.88 (m, 1H), 4.51-4.46 (m, 2H), 4.29-4.25 (m, 2H), 2.27 (s, 3H), 2.11 (s, 3H).

Preparation of 4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde

A mixture of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde (2.5 g, 16.4 mmol), K₂CO₃ (6.81 g, 49.3 mmol) and 2-bromoethyl acetate (5.49 g, 32.9 mmol) in acetone (50 mL) is refluxed for 48 h before it is diluted with diethyl ether (250 mL) and washed with water (2×200 mL). The washings are extracted with diethyl ether (200 mL). The combined organic extracts are dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The remaining residue is purified by column chromatography on silica gel eluting with heptane/EA 1:1 to afford the title compound (2.94 g) as colourless solid. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 9.85 (s, 1H), 7.45-7.41 (m, 2H), 6.99 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 4.51-4.47 (m, 2H), 4.34-4.30 (m, 2H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 2.11 (s, 3H).

Preparation of 4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benzaldehyde

To a solution of 3-(4-hydroxymethylphenoxy)propionic acid (4.00 g, 20.40 mmol) in THF (20 mL) is added a solution of LiAlH₄ (10 mL, 1 M in THF). The mixture becomes warm and is diluted with THF (20 mL) before it is refluxed. After 1 and 2 h two further portions of LiAlH₄ (2×10 mL, 1 M in THF) are added. The mixture is refluxed overnight, cooled to rt and carefully quenched by the addition of water (1.2 g), 15% aq. NaOH (1.2 g) and water (3.2 g). The white precipitate is filtered off, and the filtrate is evaporated and dried to give 3-(4-hydroxymethyl-phenoxy)-propan-1-ol. ¹H NMR (D₆-DMSO): δ 7.21-7.15 (m, 2H), 6.86-6.81 (m, 2H), 5.00 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 1H), 4.51 (t, J=5.3 Hz, 1H), 4.39 (d, J=5.3 Hz, 2H), 3.99 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 3.57-3.50 (m, 2H), 1.83 (p, J 06.4 Hz, 2H).

To a suspension of the above 3-(4-hydroxymethyl-phenoxy)-propan-1-ol (1.50 g, 8.23 mmol) in acetonitrile (25 mL) is added N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (1.50 g, 12.38 mmol) followed by tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (140 mg, 0.43 mmol). The dark solution is stirred at rt for 2 h before the solvent is removed in vacuo. The crude product is purified by column chromatography on silica gel (heptane/EA) to give 4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benzaldehyde. ¹H NMR (D₆-DMSO): δ 9.83 (s, 1H), 7.85-7.81 (m, 2H), 7.12-7.07 (m, 2H9, 4.56 (t, J=5.3 Hz, 1H), 4.14 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 3.57-3.51 (m, 2H), 1.88 (p, J=6.4 Hz, 2H).

Preparation of rac-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benzaldehyde

To a solution of 4-allyloxybenzaldehyde (1.0 g, 6.17 mmol) in acetone (40 mL) and water (5 mL) is added a 2.5% solution of OsO₄ in tert. butanol (1.25 mL) followed by N-methyl morpholine-N-oxide (867 mg, 7.4 mmol). The pale yellow solution is stirred at rt for 6 h, diluted with EA (250 mL) and washed with 10% aq. citric acid solution (100 mL) and water (2×100 mL). The washings are extracted with EA (150 mL). The combined organic extracts are concentrated and purified by column chromatography on silica gel to give the title compound (731 mg) as a turbid oil. The title compound reversibly polymerizes upon standing. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.58 min, [M+1+CH₃CN]⁺=238.

Preparation of rac-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-3-chloro-benzaldehyde

To a solution of 3-chloro-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (5.0 g, 31.9 mmol) in DMF/THF 1:3 (120 mL) is added NaH (1.67 g of a 55% dispersion in mineral oil, 38.3 mmol) in four portions. The mixture is stirred at rt for 1 h before allylbromide (9.66 g, 79.8 mmol) is added. The reaction mixture is heated to 65° C. for 18 h, diluted with water (250 mL) and extracted with diethyl ether (3×250 mL). The organic extracts are washed with water (250 mL), combined and concentrated. The remaining oil is chromatographed on silic gel with heptane/EA 4:1 to afford 4-allyloxy-3-chlorobenzaldehyde (5.37 g) as an almost colourless oil. LC: t_(R)=0.95 min. The above 4-allyloxy-3-chloro-benzaldehyde (5.37 g, 27.3 mmol) is dissolved in acetone (100 mL) and water (10 mL) and treated with a 2.5% solution of OsO₄ in tert.-butanol (1.71 mL, 0.137 mmol OsO₄). N-methyl morpholine-N-oxide (3.87 g, 32.8 mmol) is added and the reaction mixture is stirred at rt for 20 h before it is diluted with EA (300 mL) and washed with 10% aq. citric acid solution (200 mL) and water (2×150 mL). The washings are extracted with EA (300 mL) and the combined organic extracts are dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to furnish the title compound (6.02 g) as beige foam which was used in the following steps without further purification. LC: t_(R)=0.67 min.

Preparation of 3-chloro-4-((4R)-2,2-dimethyl-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethoxy)-benzaldehyde

To a solution of 3-chloro-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4.21 g, 27 mmol) in degassed toluene (100 mL) is added ((4R)-2,2-dimethyl-[1,3]dioxolan-4-yl)-methanol (5.35 g, 40.5 mmol), 1,1′-(azodicarbonyl)dipiperidide (13.63 g, 54 mmol) followed by tributylphosphine (10.93 g, 54 mmol). The mixture becomes slightly warm and a precipitate forms. The reaction mixture is diluted with degassed toluene (500 mL) and is stirred at rt for 2 h, then at 60° C. for further 18 h before it is washed with 1 N aq. NaOH (3×150 mL) and water (150 mL). The organic phase is dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to leave a dark brown oil which is chromatographed on silica gel eluting with hexane/EA 4:1 to give the title compound (4.30 g) as yellow oil. ¹H NMR (CDC₃): δ 9.82 (s, 1H), 7.89 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.74 (dd, J=1.8, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.05 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.56-4.43 (m, 1H), 4.23-4.17 (m, 2H), 4.14-4.08 (m, 1H), 4.06-4.00 (m, 1H), 1.47 (s, 3H), 1.41 (s, 3H).

Preparation of 3-chloro-4-((4S)-2,2-dimethyl-[1,3]dioxolan-4-ylmethoxy)-benzaldehyde

The title compound (174 mg) is obtained as a pale yellow oil starting from 3-chloro-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (500 mg, 3.20 mmol), ((4S)-2,2-dimethyl-[1,3]dioxolan-4-yl)-methanol (633 mg, 4.79 mmol), 1,1′-(azodicarbonyl)dipiperidide (1.61 g, 6.39 mmol), and tributylphosphine (1.29 g, 6.39 mmol) following the procedure given for the (R)-enantiomer above using THF as solvent, however.

Preparation of rac-2-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxine-6-carbaldehyde

To a cold (5° C.) solution of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (3.20 g, 23.2 mmol) in DMF (70 mL) is carefully added NaH (1.96 g 55% in mineral oil, 48.5 mmol) in portions. The temperature rises to 12° C. Upon completion of the addition, the cooling is removed and a solution of 2-chloromethyl-oxirane (2.57 g, 27.7 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) is added. The reaction mixture is stirred at rt overnight. The mixture is diluted with 1N aq. NaOH (150 mL) and extracted with EA (2×200 mL). The organic extracts are washed with 1 M aq. NaOH (2×200 mL) and water (200 mL), combined, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated. The remaining residue is purified by column chromatography on silica gel eluting with heptene/EA 5:1 to 1:1 to afford the title aldehyde (0.53 g) as a solid. LC: t_(R)=0.69 min. ¹H NMR (D₆-DMSO): δ 9.77 (s, 1H), 7.41 (dd, J=2.3, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.36 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.04 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 5.10 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 1H, D₂O exchangeable), 4.37 (dd, J=2.3, 11.1 Hz, 1H), 4.30-4.23 (m, 1H), 4.05 (dd, J=7.6, 11.1 Hz, 1H), 3.67-3.60 (m, 2H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is prepared as described in Method A. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.58 min, [M+1]⁺=235. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.50-7.36 (m, 3H), 7.29-7.24 (m, 2H), 3.98 (s, 2H), 3.51 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.14 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from o-tolylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 20.10 mmol), isopropylamine (1.19 g, 20.10 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (3.08 g, 20.1 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.67 min, [M+1]⁺=249; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.34-7.26 (m, 3H), 7.14-7.08 (m, 1H), 4.00 (s, 2H), 3.50 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.16 (s, 3H), 1.12 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.11 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-m-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from m-tolylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 20.10 mmol), isopropylamine (1.19 g, 20.10 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (3.08 g, 20.1 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.65 min, [M+1]⁺=249; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.37-7.30 (m, 1H), 7.21-7.17 (m, 1H), 7.08-7.03 (m, 2H), 3.96 (s, 2H), 3.50 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 1.14 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-p-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from p-tolylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 20.10 mmol), isopropylamine (1.19 g, 20.10 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (3.08 g, 20.1 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.64 min, [M+1]⁺=249; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.28-7.24 (m, 2H), 7.16-7.12 (m, 2H), 3.96 (s, 2H), 3.50 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.39 (s, 3H), 1.14 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from 2,3-dimethylphenylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 18.38 mmol), isopropylamine (1.09 g, 18.38 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (2.81 g, 18.38 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.74 min, [M+1]⁺=263; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.22-7.14 (m, 2H), 6.98-6.93 (m, 1H), 3.98 (s, 2H), 3.48 (hep, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 2.02 (s, 3H), 1.10 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from 2,4-dimethylphenylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 18.38 mmol), isopropylamine (1.64 g, 27.57 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (2.81 g, 18.38 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.75 min, [M+1]⁺=263; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.12-7.06 (m, 2H), 6.98 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 3.98 (s, 2H), 3.49 (hept, J=6.0 Hz, 1H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 1.12 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 3H), 1.11 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from 2,6-dimethylphenylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 18.38 mmol), isopropylamine (1.09 g, 18.38 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (2.81 g, 18.38 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.80 min, [M+1]⁺=263; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.24-7.10 (m, 3H), 4.00 (s, 2H), 3.48 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.14 (s, 6H), 1.10 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from 2-chlorophenylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 17.68 mmol), isopropylamine (1.04 g, 17.68 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (2.70 g, 17.68 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.81 min, [M+1]⁺=269; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.53-7.48 (m, 1H), 7.40-7.34 (m, 2H), 7.30-7.24 (m, 1H), 4.07-3.93 (m, 2H), 3.48 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.11 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.10 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from 2-methoxyphenylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 18.16 mmol), isopropylamine (1.08 g, 18.16 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (2.78 g, 18.16 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.62 min, [M+1]⁺=265; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ7.42-7.35 (m, 1H), 7.19-7.14 (m, 1H), 7.06-6.98 (m, 2H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 3.55-3.42 (m, 1H), 1.11 (t, 5.9 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from 3-methoxyphenylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 18.16 mmol), isopropylamine (1.08 g, 18.16 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (2.78 g, 18.16 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.65 min, [M+1]⁺=265; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.35 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 6.95-6.90 (m, 1H), 6.87-6.83 (m, 1H), 6.82-6.80 (m, 1H), 3.96 (s, 2H), 3.82 (s, 3H), 3.54-3.45 (m, 1H), 1.13 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from 4-methoxyphenylisothiocyanate (3.0 g, 18.16 mmol), isopropylamine (1.08 g, 18.16 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (2.78 g, 18.16 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.62 min, [M+1]⁺=265; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.20-7.14 (m, 2H), 7.00-6.94 (m, 2H), 3.96 (s, 2H), 3.84 (s, 3H), 3.51 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.14 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-allyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from allylisothiocyanate (5.95 g, 60 mmol), isopropylamine (3.55 g, 60 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (9.18 g, 60 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.55 min, [M+1]⁺=199; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 5.82-5.69 (m, 1H), 5.10-5.02 (m, 2H), 4.17-4.13 (m, 2H), 4.01 (s, 2H), 3.39 (hept, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 1.10 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 6H).

3-Phenyl-2-[(Z)-propylimino]-thiazolidin-4-one is prepared as described in Method B. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.60 min, [M+1]⁺=235, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.51-7.36 (m, 3H), 7.28-7.24 (m, 2H), 3.99 (s, 2H), 3.27 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 1.60 (hex, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 0.91 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Propylimino]-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method B and starting from toluidine (2.21 g, 20.6 mmol), chloroacetyl chloride (2.32 g, 20.6 mmol) and n-propylisothiocyanate (1.62 g, 16.0 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.68 min, [M+1]⁺=249. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.34-7.26 (m, 3H), 7.14-7.09 (m, 1H), 4.01 (s, 2H), 3.34-3.18 (m, 2H), 2.18 (s, 3H), 1.58 (hept, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 0.88 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Propylimino]-3-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method B and starting from 2,3-dimethylaniline (3.36 g, 27.8 mmol), chloroacetyl chloride (3.14 g, 27.7 mmol) and n-propylisothiocyanate (2.05 g, 20.2 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.71 min, [M+1]⁺=263. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.22-7.16 (m, 2H), 6.98-6.94 (m, 1H), 4.00 (s, 2H), 3.34-3.18 (m, 2H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 1.57 (hex, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 0.88 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-tert.-Butylimino]-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one (6.79 g) is obtained as an off-white crystalline powder following Method A and starting from phenylisothiocyanate (5.0 g, 37.0 mmol), tert. butylamine (2.71 g, 37.0 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (5.66 g, 37.0 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.69 min, [M+1]⁺=249, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.46-7.31 (m, 3H), 7.24-7.19 (m, 2H), 3.98 (s, 2H), 1.26 (s, 9H).

2-[(Z)-(Dimethyl-hydrazono)]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained following Method A and starting from phenylisothiocyanate (4.05 g, 30.0 mmol), dimethylhydrazine (asym.) (1.80 g, 30.0 mmol), and methyl bromoacetate (4.59 g, 30.0 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.69 min, [M+1]⁺=236, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.50-7.36 (m, 3H), 7.32-7.28 (m, 2H), 3.82 (s, 2H), 2.48 (s, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Ethylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one (1.02 g) is obtained as an off-white powder following Method B and starting from 2-chloro-N-phenyl-acetamide (7.50 g, 44.2 mmol) and ethylisothiocyanate (3.85 g, 44.2 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.48 min, [M+1]⁺=221. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.52-7.37 (m, 3H), 7.29-7.27 (m, 2H), 4.01 (s, 2H), 3.37 (q, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 1.20 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Ethylimino]-3-(2-methylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is prepared following Method B and starting from o-tolylamine, chloroacetyl chloride and ethylisothiocyanate. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.59 min, [M+1]⁺=235, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.36-7.28 (m, 3H), 7.15-7.10 (m, 1H), 4.01 (s, 2H), 3.41-3.30 (m, 2H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 1.20-1.13 (m, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Ethylimino]-3-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is prepared following Method B and starting from 2,3-dimethylaniline, chloroacetyl chloride and ethylisothiocyanate. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.66 min, [M+1]⁺=249, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.24-7.19 (m, 2H), 7.00-6.96 (m, 1H), 4.01 (s, 2H), 3.45-3.27 (m, 2H), 2.34 (s, 3H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 1.16 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-n-butylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one (1.80 g) is obtained as a pale beige powder following Method B and starting from 2-chloro-N-phenyl-acetamide (7.50 g, 44.2 mmol) and n-butylisothiocyanate (5.09 g, 44.2 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.69 min, [M+1]⁺=249. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.51-7.37 (m, 3H), 7.29-7.25 (m, 2H), 4.00 (s, 2H), 3.31 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 1.62-1.52 (m, 2H), 1.41-1.28 (m, 2H), 0.92 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-n-butylimino]-3-(2-methylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is prepared following Method B and starting from o-tolylamine, chloroacetyl chloride and n-butylisothiocyanate. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.77 min, [M+1]⁺=263, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.35-7.28 (m, 3H), 7.14-7.10 (m, 1H), 4.01 (s, 2H), 3.38-3.22 (, 2H), 2.18 (s, 3H), 1.59-1.47 (m, 2H), 1.38-1.25 (m, 2H), 0.90 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-n-butylimino]-3-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is prepared following Method B and starting from 2,3-dimethylaniline, chloroacetyl chloride and n-butylisothiocyanate. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.80 min, [M+1]⁺=277, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.23-7.16 (m, 2H), 6.99-6.94 (m, 1H), 4.01 (s, 2H), 3.38-3.23 (m, 2H), 2.33 (s, 3H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 1.59-1.49 (m, 2H), 1.38-1.25 (m, 2H), 0.91 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H).

rac-2-[(Z)-sec-Butylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one (6.98 g) is obtained as a white powder following Method A and starting from sec-butylamine (2.70 g, 36.98 mmol), phenylisothiocyanate (5.00 g, 36.98 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (5.66 g, 36.98 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.68 min, [M+1]⁺=249, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.48-7.33 (m, 3H), 7.28-7.23 (m, 2H), 3.96 (s, 2H), 3.21 (hex, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.52-1.39 (m, 2H), 1.09 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 0.82 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Cyclopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one (1.62 g) is obtained as a white powder following Method A and starting from cyclopropylamine (0.84 g, 14.8 mmol), phenylisothiocyanate (2.00 g, 14.8 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (2.26 g, 14.8 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.64 min, [M+1]⁺=233, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.47-7.33 (m, 3H), 7.24-7.20 (m, 2H), 4.00 (s, 2H), 2.67 (hept, J=3.5 Hz, 1H), 0.82-0.75 (m, 2H), 0.64-0.59 (m, 2H).

3-Cyclohexyl-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-thiazolidin-4-one is prepared starting from cyclohexylamine, chloroacetyl chloride and isopropylisothiocyanate following Method B. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.83 min, [M+1]⁺=241, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 4.30 (tt, J=3.6, 12.0 Hz, 1H), 3.69 (s, 2H), 3.37 (hep, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.40-2.25 (m, 2H), 1.84-1.75 (m, 2H), 1.64-1.50 (m, 2H), 1.40-1.20 (m, 4H), 1.14 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-isopropyl-thiazolidin-4-one (2.68 g) is obtained as a colourless oil following Method A and starting from isopropylamine (1.17 g, 19.8 mmol), isopropylisothiocyanate (2.00 g, 19.8 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (3.02 g, 19.8 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.61 min, [M+1]⁺=201, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 4.73 (hept, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 3.71 (s, 2H), 3.40 (hept, J=6.0 Hz, 1H), 1.42 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 6H), 1.17 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(2-ethylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one (5.07 g) is obtained as an off-white powder following Method A and starting from isopropylamine (1.98 g, 33.5 mmol), 2-ethylphenylisothiocyanate (5.0 g, 30.8 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (5.12 g, 33.5 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.90 min, [M+1]⁺=223, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.41-7.26 (m, 3H), 7.08 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 3.99 (s, 2H), 3.48 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.49 (q, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 1.19 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H), 1.09 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalen-1-yl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as a yellow solid following Method B and starting from 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalen-1-ylamine, chloroacetyl chloride and isopropylisothiocyanate. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.81 min, [M+1]⁺=289, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.23-7.13 (m, 2H), 6.96-6.91 (m, 1H), 3.99 (s, 2H), 3.50 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.86-2.80 (m, 2H), 2.52-2.45 (m, 2H), 1.84-1.74 (m, 4H), 1.13 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one (2.7 g) is obtained as an oil following Method A and starting from isopropylamine (1.29 g, 21.8 mmol), 3-chloro-2-methylphenylisothiocyanate (4.0 g, 21.8 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (3.33 g, 21.8 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=086 min, [M+1]⁺=283, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.48-7.44 (m, 1H), 7.30-7.23 (m, 1H), 7.10-7.06 (m, 1H), 3.51 (hept, J=6.2 Hz, 1H), 2.21 (s, 3H), 1.15 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 3H), 1.13 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(3-chloro-4-methylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one (4.0 g) is obtained as pale yellow solid following Method A and starting from isopropylamine (1.72 g, 29.0 mmol), 3-chloro-4-methylphenylisothiocyanate (5.33 g, 29.0 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (4.44 g, 29.0 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.80 min, [M+1]⁺=283, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.33 (s, 1H), 7.30-7.27 (m, 2H), 3.96 (s, 2H), 3.49 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 1.14 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one (2.77 g) is obtained as an oil following Method A and starting from isopropylamine (1.50 g, 25.4 mmol), 3-trifluoromethylphenylisothiocyanate (5.17 g, 25.4 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (3.89 g, 25.4 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.88 min, [M+1]⁺=303, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.65-7.46 (m, 4H), 3.98 (s, 2H), 3.50 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.13 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-Isopropylimino]-3-(3-chlorophenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one (1.0 g) is obtained as an oil following Method A and starting from isopropylamine (1.67 g, 28.3 mmol), 3-chlorophenylisothiocyanate (4.80 g, 28.3 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (4.33 g, 28.3 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.77 min, [M+1]⁺=269, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.41-7.28 (m, 3H), 7.20-7.15 (m, 1H), 3.96 (s, 2H), 3.53-3.44 (m, 1H), 1.13 (d, 5.9 Hz, 6H).

2-[(Z)-allyl]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as a yellow powder following Method B and starting from aniline, chloroacetyl chloride and allylisothiocyanate. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.63 min, [M+1]⁺=233, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.52-7.38 (m, 3H), 7.31-7.25 (m, 2H), 5.96-5.82 (m, 1H), 5.20-5.06 (m, 2H), 4.01 (s, 2H), 3.99-3.95 (m, 2H).

2-[(Z)-allylimino]-3-allyl-thiazolidin-4-one (3.12 g) is obtained as a pale yellow oil following Method A and starting from allylamine (1.15 g, 20.2 mmol), allylisothiocyanate (2.0 g, 20.2 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (3.08 g, 20.2 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.66 min, [M+1]⁺=197; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 6.02-5.79 (m, 2H), 5.29-5.25 (m, 1H), 5.22-5.18 (m, 1H), 5.17-5.09 (m, 2H), 4.38-4.35 (m, 2H), 3.95 (dt, J_(d)=5.3 Hz, J_(t)=1.7 Hz, 2H), 3.83 (s, 2H).

2-[(Z)-Methylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as a beige solid following Method B and starting from aniline, chloroacetyl chloride and methylisothiocyanate. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.37 min, [M+1]⁺=207, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.52-7.38 (m, 3H), 7.28-7.24 (m, 2H), 4.01 (s, 2H), 3.13 (s, 3H).

2-[(Z)-Methylimino]-3-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as a pale orange solid following Method B and starting from 2,3-dimethylaniline, chloroacetyl chloride and methylisothiocyanate. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.59 min, [M+1]⁺=235, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.24-7.19 (m, 2H), 7.00-6.95 (m, 1H), 4.04 (s, 2H), 3.12 (s, 3H), 2.33 (s, 3H), 2.06 (s, 3H).

Example 1

5-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmeth-(Z)-ylidene-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thia-zolidin-4-one is prepared as described in Method C.

LC-MS: t_(R)=1.06 min, [M+1]⁺=367.

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.70 (s, 1H), 7.52-7.32 (m, 5H), 7.12-7.07 (m, 2H), 6.92 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 6.06 (s, 2H), 3.61 (hept, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 1.21 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 2

5-(2,3-Dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-ylmeth-(Z)-ylidene)-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained starting from Scaffold 1 (19 mg, 0.08 mmol) and 2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxine-6-carbaldehyde (26 mg, 0.16 mmol) following Method E.

LC-MS: t_(R)=1.05 min, [M+1]⁺=381.

Example 3

5-(4-Dimethylamino-benz-(Z)-ylidene)-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained starting from Scaffold 1 (19 mg, 0.08 mmol) and 4-dimethylamino-benzaldehyde (24 mg, 0.16 mmol) following Method E. LC-MS: t_(R)=1.09 min, [M+1]⁺=379.

Example 4

5-[4-(2-Hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thia-zolidin-4-one is prepared as described in Method D

LC-MS: t_(R)=0.94 min, [M+1]⁺=383.

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.56-7.44 (m, 4H), 7.42-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.04-6.99 (m, 2H), 4.17-4.13 (m, 2H), 4.03-3.97 (m, 2H), 3.60 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.01 (s br, 1H), 1.19 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 5

A mixture of 5-[4-(2-Hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one (75 mg, 0.196 mmol, Example 4), K₂CO₃ (81 mg, 0.588 mmol), and methyl chloroacetate (250 L) in DMF (2 mL) is stirred at 60° C. for 96 h before it is diluted with EA (75 mL) and washed with 10% aq. citric acid (50 mL) and water (2×50 mL). The organic layer is evaporated and the resulting residue is purified by prep. TLC (heptane/EA 1:1) followed by crystallisation from a small amount of methanol to give {2-[4-(2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-4-oxo-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-5-ylidene-methyl)-phenoxy]-ethoxy}-acetic acid. LC-MS: t_(R)=1.06 min, [M+1]⁺=441. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.73 (s, 1H), 7.55-7.44 (m, 4H), 7.42-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.03-6.98 (m, 2H), 4.55-4.50 (m, 2H), 4.29-4.25 (m, 2H), 3.83 (s, 2H), 3.60 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.19 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 6

After purification on prep. TLC plates, rac-5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz-(Z)-ylidene}-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as a pale beige foam starting from Scaffold 1 (150 mg, 0.604 mmol) and rac-4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benzaldehyde (290 mg, 1.208 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.99 min, [M+1]⁺=471; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.73 (s, 1H), 7.55-7.51 (m, 2H), 7.35-7.28 (m, 3H), 7.20-7.15 (m, 1H), 7.04-6.98 (m, 2H), 4.20 (t, J=4.7 Hz, 2H), 3.94-3.88 (m, 3H), 3.77-3.55 (m, 5H), 2.65 (s br, 1H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 2.08 (s br, 1H), 1.17 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.16 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H).

Example 7

5-[3-Chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as pale yellow powder starting from 3-chloro-4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-benzaldehyde (311 mg, 1.28 mmol) and Scaffold 1 (150 mg, 0.64 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=1.01 min, [M+1]⁺=417; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.654 (s, 1H), 7.61 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.51-7.32 (m, 6H), 7.03 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.24-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.06-4.01 (m, 2H), 3.60 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.15 (s br, 1H), 1.19 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 8

5-[3-Fluoro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is prepared following Method D and starting from 4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-3-fluoro-benzaldehyde (390 mg, 1.7 mmol) and Scaffold 1 (200 mg, 0.85 mmol). LC-MS: t_(R)=0.98 min, [M+1]⁺=401; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.66 (s, 1H), 7.51-7.28 (m, 7H), 7.06 (t, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.24-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.06-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.60 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.11 (t br, 1H), 1.19 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 9

5-[4-(2-Hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as an off-white powder starting from 4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-3-methylbenzaldehyde (284 mg, 1.28 mmol) and Scaffold 1 (150 mg, 0.64 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.98 min, [M+1]⁺=397; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.69 (s, 1H), 7.49-7.30 (m, 7H), 6.90 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.17-4.12 (m, 2H), 4.03-3.98 (m, 2H), 3.59 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.30 (s, 3H), 1.95 (s br, 1H), 1.17 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 10

5-[4-(2-Hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as a pale yellow powder starting from 4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde (305 mg, 1.28 mmol) and Scaffold 1 (150 mg, 0.64 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.95 min, [M+1]⁺=413; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.72 (s, 1H), 7.51-7.45 (m, 2H), 7.42-7.39 (m, 1H), 7.37-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.18 (dd, J=2.3, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.08 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.22-4.17 (m, 2H), 4.06-3.98 (m, 3H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 3.60 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.22 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.19 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H).

Example 11

5-[4-(3-Hydroxy-propoxy)-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained starting from Scaffold 1 (150 mg, 0.640 mmol) and 4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benzaldehyde (173 mg, 0.960 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.97 min, [M+1]⁺=397. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.73 (s, 1H), 7.55-7.33 (m, 7H), 7.02-6.97 (m, 2H), 4.19 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 3.89 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 3.60 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.09 (p, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 1.19 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 12

rac-5-[4-(2,3-Dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as an off-white powder starting from rac-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benzaldehyde (335 mg, 1.70 mmol) and Scaffold 1 (200 mg, 0.85 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.86 min, [M+1]⁺=413. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.73 (s, 1H), 7.55-7.45 (m, 4H), 7.43-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.03-6.99 (m, 2H), 4.16-4.10 (m, 3H), 3.91-3.84 (m, 1H), 3.81-3.74 (m, 1H), 3.60 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.56 (s br, 1H), 1.95 (s br, 1H); 1.19 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 13

rac-5-[3-Chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz-(Z)-yl idene]-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as pale olive powder starting from rac-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-3-chloro-benzaldehyde (295 mg, 1.28 mmol) and Scaffold 1 (150 mg, 0.64 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.94 min, [M+1]⁺=447. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.64 (s, 1H), 7.59 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.50-7.30 (m, 6H), 7.01 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.25-4.13 (m, 3H), 3.92-3.80 (m, 2H), 3.59 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.70 (s br, 1H), 2.05 (s br, 1H), 1.18 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 14

rac-5-(3-Hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-yl meth-(Z)-ylene)-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as almost colourless crystals (EA/methanol) starting from rac-2-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxine-6-carbaldehyde (210 mg, 1.08 mmol) and Scaffold 1 (150 mg, 0.64 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.97 min, [M+1]⁺=411. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.58 (s, 1H), 7.42-7.35 (m, 2H), 7.33-7.24 (m, 3H), 7.06-7.01 (m, 2H), 6.92-6.89 (m, 1H), 4.42-4.35 (m, 1H), 4.30-4.23 (m, 3H), 4.03 (dd, J=7.0, 11.1, 1H), 3.51 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 1.10 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Examples 15 to 25

Starting from Scaffold 2, the following examples are prepared:

LC-MS Example R Method Scale (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺ 15

C 0.604 1.10 381 16

E 0.200 1.09 395 17

C 0.604 1.03 380 18

D 0.400 0.98 397 19

D 0.604 0.91 471 20

D 0.604 1.04 431 21

D 0.604 1.02 411 22

D 0.604 0.98 427 23

D 0.604 1.01 411 24

D 0.604 0.96 461 25

D 0.650 1.01 425

Example 15

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.69 (s, 1H), 7.34-7.27 (m, 3H), 7.20-7.14 (m, 1H), 7.12-7.07 (m, 2H), 6.91 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 6.06 (s, 2H), 3.58 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 1.18 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 3H), 1.17 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 3H).

Example 20

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.62 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.45 (dd, J=2.3, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.36-7.29 (m, 3H), 7.20-7.15 (m, 1H), 7.03 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.24-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.07-4.01 (m, 2H), 3.59 (hept, J=5.9 Hz, 1H), 2.18 (s, 3H), 2.14 (s br, 1H), 1.18 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 3H), 1.16 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 3H).

Example 23

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.73 (s, 1H), 7.55-7.50 (m, 2H), 7.35-7.27 (m, 3H), 7.20-7.15 (m, 1H), 7.02-6.98 (m, 2H), 4.20 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 3.88 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 3.58 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.18 (s, 3H), 2.09 (p, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 1.17 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.16 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H).

Example 24

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.63 8s, 1H), 7.59 8d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.43 (dd, J=2.3, 8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.35-7.26 (m, 3H), 7.17-7.13 (m, 1H), 7.01 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.24-4.13 (m, 3H), 3.91-3.79 (m, 2H), 3.57 (hept, J=5.9 Hz, 1H), 2.74 (s br, 1H), 2.16 (s, 3H), 1.17 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 3H), 2.15 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 3H).

Examples 26 to 31

Starting from Scaffold 3, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- LC-MS am- Scale [M + ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) 1]⁺ 26

E 0.200 1.08 381 27

E 0.200 1.08 395 28

E 0.200 1.01 380 29

D 0.400 0.97 397 30

D 0.604 1.04 431 31

D 0.604 0.97 461

Example 31

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.64 (s, 1H), 7.60 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (dd, J=2.3, 8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.39-7.33 (m, 1H), 7.23-7.19 (m, 1H), 7.15-7.10 (m, 2H), 7.02 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.25-4.15 (m, 3H), 3.93-3.80 (m, 2H), 3.60 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.75 (s br, 1H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 1.85 (s br, 1H), 1.21 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Examples 32 to 36

Starting from Scaffold 4, the following examples have been prepared:

Ex- LC-MS am- Scale [M + ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) 1]⁺ 32

E 0.200 1.09 381 33

E 0.200 1.09 395 34

D 0.400 0.97 397 35

D 0.604 1.05 431 36

D 0.604 0.98 461

Example 35

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.64 (s, 1H), 7.60 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (dd, J=2.3, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.30-7.19 (m, 4H), 7.02 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.23-4.19 (m, 2H), 4.07-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.59 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 2.14 (s br, 1H), 1.19 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Examples 37 to 47

Starting from Scaffold 5, the following examples have been prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺ 37

E 0.200 1.11 395 38

E 0.200 1.11 409 39

E 0.200 1.05 394 40

D 0.763 0.99 411 41

D 0.572 0.93 485 42

D 0.572 1.06 445 43

D 0.572 1.03 429 44

D 0.572 1.03 425 45

D 0.572 1.00 441 46

D 0.572 0.98 475 47

D 0.650 1.00 439

Example 40

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.73 (s, 1H), 7.56-7.51 (m, 2H), 7.24-7.18 (m, 2H), 7.06-7.00 (m, 3H), 4.18-4.14 (m, 2H), 4.04-3.98 (m, 2H), 3.50 (hep, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 2.00 (s br, 1H), 1.18 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.17 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H).

Example 47

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.57 (s, 1H), 7.17-7.00 (m, 4H), 6.97-6.85 (m, 2H), 4.30-4.18 (m, 2H), 4.11-4.03 (m, 1H), 3.86-3.70 (m, 2H), 3.49 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 1.95 (s, 3H), 1.07 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Examples 48 and 49

Starting from Scaffold 6, the following examples are prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺ 48

E 0.200 1.12 409 49

D 0.762 1.00 411

Example 48

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.72 (s, 1H), 7.56-7.50 (m, 2H), 7.14-6.98 (m, 5H), 4.17-4.12 (m, 2H), 4.02-3.96 (m, 2H), 3.58 (hept, J=6.2 Hz, 1H), 2.37 (s, 3H), 2.14 (s, 3H), 2.04 (s br, 1H), 1.17 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 3H), 1.16 (d, J=6.2 Hz, 3H).

Examples 50 to 51

Starting from Scaffold 7, the following examples are prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺ 50

E 0.200 1.13 409 51

D 0.762 1.02 411

Example 51

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.73 (s, 1H), 7.57-7.52 (m, 2H), 7.27-7.21 (m, 1H), 7.17-7.12 (m, 2H), 7.04-6.99 (m, 2H), 4.18-4.13 (m, 2H), 4.03-3.98 (m, 2H), 3.57 (hept, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 2.15 (s, 6H), 2.01 (s br, 1H), 1.16 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Examples 52 to 57

Starting from Scaffold 8, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- LC-MS am- Scale [M + ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) 1]⁺ 52

E 0.200 1.11 401 53

E 0.200 1.11 415 54

E 0.200 1.09 400 55

D 0.744 0.99 417 56

D 0.558 1.05 451 57

D 0.558 0.98 481

Example 55

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.56-7.50 (m, 3H), 7.41-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.04-7.00 (m, 2H), 4.18-4.13 (m, 2H), 4.04-3.98 (m, 2H), 3.58 (hept, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 2.01 (s br, 1H), 1.17 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 3H), 1.16 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H).

Example 58

5-(2,3-Dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxin-6-ylmeth-(Z)-ylidene)-2-[(Z)-isopropylimino]-3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained starting from Scaffold 9 (53 mg, 0.200 mmol) and 2,3-dihydro-benzo[1,4]dioxine-6-carbaldehyde (49 mg, 0.300 mmol) following Method C. LC-MS: t_(R)=1.03 min, [M+1]⁺=411.

Examples 58 to 60

Starting from Scaffold 9, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺ 58

C 0.200 1.03 411 59

D 0.378 0.92 413 60

D 0.567 0.99 447

Example 60

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.55 (s, 1H), 7.52 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.38-7.29 (m, 2H), 7.15 (dd, J=1.8, 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.00-6.92 (m, 3H), 4.15-4.11 (m, 2H), 3.98-3.93 (m, 2H), 3.72 (s, 3H), 3.50 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.08 (s br, 1H), 1.09 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.08 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H).

Examples 61 and 62

Starting from Scaffold 10, the following examples are prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺ 61

E 0.200 1.06 411 62

D 0.380 0.95 413

Example 63 to 65

Starting from Scaffold 11, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺ 63

E 0.200 1.05 411 64

D 0.380 0.93 413 65

D 0.567 0.99 447

Example 66 to 71

Starting from Scaffold 12, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- LC-MS am- Scale [M + ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) 1]⁺ 66

E 0.200 1.07 331 67

E 0.080 1.05 345 68

C 20.0 0.99 330.2 69

D 0.757 0.94 347 70

D 0.756 1.02 381 71

D 0.756 0.94 411

Example 68

¹H NMR (D₆-DMSO): δ 7.55 (s, 1H), 7.46-7.42 (m, 2H), 6.82-6.76 (m, 2H), 5.90-5.76 (m, 1H), 5.13-5.02 (m, 2H), 4.36-4.27 (m, 2H), 3.50 (hept, J=6.0 Hz, 1H), 2.99 (s, 6H), 1.16 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 6H).

Example 69

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.66 (s, 1H), 7.51-7.46 (m, 2H), 7.01-6.96 (m, 2H), 5.96-5.83 (m, 1H), 5.28-5.14 (m, 2H), 4.49-4.44 (m, 2H), 4.16-4.12 (m, 2H), 4.03-3.96 (m, 2H), 3.55 (hept, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 2.01 (t br, J=5 Hz, 1H), 1.24 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 6H).

Examples 72 to 77

Starting from Scaffold 13, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- LC-MS am- Scale [M + ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) 1]⁺ 72

C 0.640 1.06 367 73

C 0.333 1.05 381 74

D 0.854 0.95 383 75

D 1.067 1.01 417 76

D 1.067 0.97 397 77

D 0.640 0.94 447

Example 74

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.56-7.44 (m, 4H), 7.43-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.03-6.98 (m, 2H), 4.18-4.13 (m, 2H), 4.04-3.96 (m, 2H), 3.38 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 2.01 (s br, 1H), 1.72-1.59 (m, 2H), 0.95 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

Example 76

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.72 (s, 1H), 7.53-7.33 (m, 7H), 6.93 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.19-4.15 (m, 2H), 4.06-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.40 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 2.33 (s, 3H), 1.98 (t br, J=6 Hz, 1H), 1.67 (hex, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 0.96 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H).

Example 78 to 86

Starting from Scaffold 14, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- LC-MS am- Scale [M + ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) 1]⁺ 78

C 0.805 1.08 381 79

C 0.805 1.08 395 80

D 0.805 0.96 397 81

D 0.427 0.99 411 82

D 0.805 1.03 431 83

D 0.604 1.01 411 84

D 0.604 0.96 461 85

F 0.351 0.96 461 86

F 0.314 0.96 461

Example 80

¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.57-7.52 (m, 2H), 7.36-7.28 (m, 3H), 7.20-7.16 (m, 1H), 7.05-7.00 (m, 2H), 4.18-4.14 (m, 2H), 4.04-3.98 (m, 2H), 3.46-3.30 (m, 2H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 2.00 (s br, 1H), 1.68-1.56 (m, 2H), 0.93 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H).

Example 81

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.56-7.51 (m, 2H), 7.35-7.28 (m, 3H), 7.20-7.15 (m, 1H), 7.03-6.98 (m, 2H), 4.20 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 3.89 (t, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 3.49-3.30 (m, 2H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 2.15-2.03 (m, 2H), 1.68-1.55 (m, 2H), 0.92 (t, J=7.6 HZ, 3H).

Example 86

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.66 (s, 1H), 7.62 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.47 (dd, J=2.3, 8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.36-7.28 (m, 3H), 7.21-7.16 (m, 1H), 7.05 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.25-4.16 (m, 3H), 3.94-3.82 (m, 2H), 3.45-3.30 (m, 2H), 2.72 (d, J=4.1 Hz, 1H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 2.07 (t, J=6.2 Hz, 1H), 1.63 (hex, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 0.93 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H).

Example 87 to 95

Starting from Scaffold 15, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- LC-MS am- Scale [M + ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) 1]⁺ 87

C 0.762 1.09 395 88

C 0.762 1.10 409 89

D 0.762 0.98 411 90

D 0.762 0.92 485 91

D 1.906 1.05 445 92

D 0.572 1.02 425 93

D 0.762 0.99 441 94

D 0.762 0.90 441 95

D 0.572 0.98 475

Example 87

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.69 (s, 1H), 7.23-7.18 (m, 2H), 7.13-7.08 (m, 2H), 7.04-7.00 (m, 1H), 6.93-6.90 (m, 1H), 6.06 (s, 2H), 3.46-3.30 (m, 2H), 2.34 (s, 3H), 2.07 (s, 3H), 1.70-1.55 (m, 2H), 0.92 8t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

Example 89

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.57-7.52 (m, 2H), 7.23-7.20 (m, 2H), 7.05-7.00 (m, 3H), 4.18-4.14 (m, 2H), 4.03-3.98 (m, 2H), 3.48-3.30 (m, 2H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.07 (s, 3H), 1.67-1.57 (m, 2H), 0.93 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H).

Examples 96 and 97

Starting from Scaffold 16 the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺ 96

C 0.08 1.11 395 97

D 0.604 1.08 431

Example 98 to 101

Starting from Scaffold 17, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 98

C 0.850 1.06 368 99

E 0.08 1.04 382 100 

D 0.850 0.95 384 101 

D 0.638 1.01 418

Example 98

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.68 (s, 1H), 7.53-7.35 (m, 5H), 7.14-7.10 (m, 2H), 6.92-6.88 (m, 1H), 6.05 (s, 2H), 2.60 (s, 6H).

Example 99

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.54-7.35 (m, 5H), 7.15-7.09 (m, 2H), 6.94 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.35-4.29 (m, 4H), 2.58 (s, 6H).

Example 100

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.58-7.35 (m, 7H), 7.04-6.99 (m, 2H), 4.17-4.13 (m, 2H), 4.03-3.98 (m, 2H), 2.62 (s, 6H), 2.00 (s br, 1H).

Example 102 and 103

Starting from Scaffold 18, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 102

D 0.681 0.89 369 103

D 1.815 0.96 403

Example 103

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.67 (s, 1H), 7.62 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.54-7.33 (m, 6H), 7.04 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.25-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.09-4.02 (m, 2H), 3.49 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 2.16 (s br, 1H), 1.25 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H).

Example 104 to 108

Starting from Scaffold 19, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 104

E 0.200 1.05 367 105

E 0.200 1.05 381 106

E 0.200 0.98 366 107

D 0.200 0.92 383 108

D 0.640 1.00 417

Example 109 and 110

Starting from Scaffold 20, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 109

D 0.604 0.94 397 110

D 0.604 1.02 431

Example 110

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.67 (s, 1H), 7.63 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (dd, J=2.3, 8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.25-7.19 (m, 2H), 7.07-7.01 (m, 2H), 4.25-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.08-4.02 (m, 2H), 3.55-3.43 (m, 2H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.15 (s br, 1H), 2.07 (s, 3H), 1.25-1.19 (m, 3H).

Example 111 and 112

Starting from Scaffold 21, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 111

D 0.604 0.98 397 112

D 0.604 1.05 431

Example 113 and 114

Starting from Scaffold 22, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 113

D 0.572 1.01 411 114

D 0.572 1.07 445

Example 114

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.67 (s, 1H), 7.62 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (dd, J=2.3, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.39-7.29 (m, 3H), 7.20-7.16 (m, 1H), 7.05 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.25-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.07-7.02 (m, 2H), 3.51-3.35 (m, 2H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 2.14 (s br, 1H), 1.65-1.55 (m, 2H), 1.43-4.30 (m, 2H), 0.93 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H).

Example 115 and 116

Starting from Scaffold 23, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 115

D 0.543 1.03 425 116

D 0.543 1.09 459

Examples 117 to 120

Starting from Scaffold 24, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 117

E 0.200 1.12 381 118

E 0.200 1.10 395 119

E 0.200 1.02 380 120

D 0.604 1.04 431

Example 120

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.61 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.51-7.32 (m, 6H), 7.03 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.24-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.06-4.01 (m, 2H), 3.32 (hex, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.15 (s br, 1H), 1.60-1.49 (m, 2H), 1.17 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 0.87 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H).

Examples 121 to 123

Starting from Scaffold 25, the following examples are prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 121

E 0.200 1.08 365 122

E 0.200 1.08 379 123

D 0.200 0.96 381

Examples 124 and 125

Starting from Scaffold 26, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- LC-MS am- Scale [M + ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) 1]⁺⁺ 124

D 0.283 1.08 389 125

D 0.283 1.14 423

Example 124

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.60 (s, 1H), 7.51-7.46 (m, 2H), 7.01-6.96 (m, 2H), 4.49 (tt, J=3.5, 11.8 Hz, 1H), 4.16-4.11 (m, 2H), 4.02-3.96 (m, 2H), 3.51 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.50-2.35 (m, 2H), 1.99 (s br, 1H), 1.90-1.80 (m, 2H), 1.70-1.35 (m, 6H), 1.25 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 126 to 131

Starting from Scaffold 27, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 126

E 0.200 1.12 333 127

E 0.200 1.12 347 128

E 0.200 1.07 332 129

D 0.200 0.95 345 130

D 0.499 1.07 383 131

D 0.750 0.99 413

Example 131

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.55 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (s, 1H), 7.40 (dd, J=2.3, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.91 (hept, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 4.25-4.14 (m, 3H), 3.94-3.81 (m, 2H), 3.53 (hept, J=6.4 Hz, 1H), 2.72 (s br, 1H), 2.09 (s br, 1H), 1.50 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 6H), 1.26 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 6H).

Example 132 to 134

Starting from Scaffold 28, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 132

E 0.200 1.11 409 133

E 0.200 1.06 394 134

D 0.572 1.07 445

Examples 135 and 136

Starting from Scaffold 29, the following examples are prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 135

E 0.160 1.14 421 136

E 0.160 1.14 435

Examples 137 and 139

Starting from Scaffold 30, the following examples are prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 137

E 0.200 1.14 415 138

E 0.200 1.15 429 139

E 0.200 1.12 414

Example 140 to 142

Starting from Scaffold 31, the following examples are prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 140

E 0.200 1.14 415 141

E 0.200 1.15 429 142

E 0.200 1.10 414

Example 143 to 145

Starting from Scaffold 32, the following examples are prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 143

E 0.200 1.14 435 144

E 0.200 1.15 449 145

E 0.200 1.13 434

Examples 146 to 148

Starting from Scaffold 33, the following examples are prepared:

Scale LC-MS Example R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 146

E 0.200 1.12 401 147

E 0.200 1.12 415 148

E 0.200 1.09 400

Examples 149 and 150

Starting from Scaffold 34, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 149

D 0.650 0.95 381 150

D 0.650 1.01 415

Example 150

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.69 (s, 1H), 7.62 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.55-7.34 (m, 4H), 7.05 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 6.01-5.88 (m, 1H), 5.25-5.10 (m, 2H), 4.26-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.12-4.08 (m, 2H), 4.07-4.02 (m, 2H).

Examples 151 to 155

Starting from Scaffold 35, the following examples are prepared:

Ex- am- Scale LC-MS ple R Method (mmol) t_(R) [M + 1]⁺⁺ 151

E 0.200 1.06 329 152

E 0.200 1.07 343 153

E 0.200 1.05 328 154

D 0.200 0.95 345 155

D 0.764 1.01 379

Example 155

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.62 (s, 1H), 7.57 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (dd, J=2.3, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.02 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 6.06-5.85 (m, 2H), 5.33-5.15 (m, 4H), 4.55-4.50 (m, 2H), 4.24-4.19 (m, 2H), 4.10-4.08 (m, 2H), 4.07-4.01 (m, 2H), 2.13 (s br, 1H).

Example 156

5-[3-Chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-methylimino]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as an off-white powder starting from Scaffold 36 (150 mg, 0.727 mmol) and 3-chloro-4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-benzaldehyde (353 mg, 1.45 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.91 min, [M+1]⁺=389. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.69 (s, 1H), 7.63 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.55-7.40 (m, 4H), 7.35-7.30 (m, 2H), 7.05 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.25-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.08-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.27 (s, 3H).

Example 157

5-[3-Chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz-(Z)-ylidene]-2-[(Z)-methylimino]-3-(2,3-diemthylphenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one is obtained as a pale yellow powder starting from Scaffold 37 (150 mg, 0.640 mmol) and 3-chloro-4-(2-acetoxy-ethoxy)-benzaldehyde (311 mg, 1.28 mmol) following Method D. LC-MS: t_(R)=0.97 min, [M+1]⁺=417. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.69 (s, 1H), 7.64 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.47 (dd, J=2.3, 8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.25-7.20 (m, 2H), 7.06-7.01 (m, 2H), 4.25-4.20 (m, 2H), 4.07-4.02 (m, 2H), 3.25 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.07 (s, 3H). 

1. A pharmaceutical composition containing at least one thiazolidin-4-one derivative of the Formula (I)

wherein: R¹ represents lower alkyl, lower alkenyl; cycloalkyl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-2-yl; or an unsubstituted phenyl group; R² represents lower alkyl; allyl; cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl; cyclopentyl; or mono- or di-lower alkylamino; R³ represents —O—CR⁷R⁸—CR⁹R¹⁰—(CR¹¹R¹²)_(n)—O—R¹³; R⁴ represents hydrogen; hydroxy; lower alkoxy; lower alkyl; or halogen; R⁵ and R⁶ each represents independently lower alkyl; R⁷ represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, or hydroxymethyl; R⁸, R⁹, R¹¹ and R¹² each represents independently hydrogen or methyl; R¹⁰ represents hydrogen or lower alkyl; in case n represents the integer 1, R¹⁰ in addition represents lower alkoxy, hydroxy, —NH₂, —NHR⁵ or —NR⁵R⁶; R¹³ represents hydrogen; lower alkyl; hydroxycarbonyl-lower alkyl; 1-glyceryl or 2-glyceryl; n represents the integer 0 or 1; or a configurational isomer, an optically pure enantiomer, a mixture of enantiomers, an enantiomeric racemate, a diastereomer, a mixture of diastereomers, a diastereomeric racemate, a mixture of diastereomeric racemates, or a meso-form thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and an inert carrier material.
 2. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which said thiazolidin-4-one derivatives is a (Z,Z)-isomer.
 3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 further comprising one or more immunosuppressant compounds.
 4. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 3, wherein said immunosuppressant compound is selected from the group consisting of cyclosporin, daclizumab, basiliximab, everolimus, tacrolimus (FK506), azathiopirene, leflunomide, and 15-deoxyspergualin.
 5. A thiazolidin-4-one derivative of Formula (II)

wherein: R¹⁴ represents lower alkyl, lower alkenyl; cycloalkyl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-2-yl; or an unsubstituted phenyl group; R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl; allyl; cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl; cyclopentyl; or mono- or di-lower alkylamino; R¹⁶ represents hydrogen; hydroxy; lower alkoxy; lower alkyl or halogen; R¹⁷ represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, or hydroxymethyl; R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²¹ and R²² each represents independently hydrogen or methyl; R²⁰ represents hydrogen or lower alkyl; and in case m represents the integer 1, R²⁰ in addition represents lower alkoxy, hydroxy, —NH₂, —NHR⁵ or —NR⁵R⁶; R²³ represents hydrogen; lower alkyl; hydroxycarbonyl-lower alkyl; 1-glyceryl or 2-glyceryl; m represents the integer 0 or 1; or a configurational isomer, an optically pure enantiomer, a mixture of enantiomers, an enantiomeric racemate, a diastereomer, a mixture of diastereomers, a diastereomeric racemate, a mixture of diastereomeric racemates, or a meso-form thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 6. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 in which said thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to formula (II) is a (Z,Z) isomer.
 7. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted phenyl group.
 8. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl.
 9. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R¹⁶ represents halogen or methyl.
 10. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein m represents the integer 0, and R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹ and R²⁰ represent hydrogen.
 11. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein m represents the integer 1, R¹⁷, R¹, R¹⁹, R²¹ and R²² represent hydrogen, and R²⁰ represents hydroxy.
 12. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R²³ represents hydrogen.
 13. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein m represents the integer 0, and R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰ and R²³ represent hydrogen.
 14. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein m represents the integer 1, R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²¹, R²² and R²³ represent hydrogen, and R²⁰ represents hydroxy.
 15. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted phenyl group, and R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl.
 16. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted phenyl group, m represents the integer 0, and R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰ and R²³ represent hydrogen.
 17. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted phenyl group, m represents the integer 1, R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²¹, R²² and R²³ represent hydrogen, and R²⁰ represents hydroxy.
 18. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted phenyl group, R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl, R¹⁶ represents methyl or halogen, m represents the integer 0, and R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²⁰ and R²³ each represent hydrogen.
 19. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R¹⁴ represents an unsubstituted phenyl group, R¹⁵ represents lower alkyl, R¹⁶ represents methyl or halogen, m represents the integer 1, R¹⁷, R¹⁸, R¹⁹, R²¹ R²² and R²³ represent hydrogen, and R²⁰ represents hydroxy.
 20. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 selected from the group consisting of: 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, {2-[4-(2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-4-oxo-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-5-[Z]-ylidenemethyl)-phenoxy]-ethoxy}-acetic acid, 5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz[Z]ylidene}-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-fluoro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-allyl-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-allyl-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-allyl-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-tert-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-(dimethyl-hydrazono)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-(dimethyl-hydrazono)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-ethylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-sec-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-cyclopropylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-cyclohexyl-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-cyclohexyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-allyl-2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-allyl-2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-thiazolidin-4-one, and 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-methylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one.
 21. The thiazolidin-4-one derivative according to claim 5 selected from the group consisting of: 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-(dimethyl-hydrazono)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, and 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one.
 22. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one thiazolidin-4-one derivative of claim 5 and inert carrier material.
 23. A process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition comprising mixing one or more thiazolidin-4-one derivatives of any one of claim 5, 20 or 21 with an inert excipient.
 24. A process for the preparation of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, comprising mixing one or more thiazolidin-4-one derivatives according to claim 1 with an inert excipient. 